An air-conditioning technician is being held by Santa Monica police in connection with the murder of three women, one of them being the ex-girlfriend of celebrity Ashton Kutcher.DNA evidence was used to connect Michael Gargiulo, 32, of Santa Monica, with the stabbing deaths. Gargiulo has been in custody since July on unrelated charges and could face new murder charges as early as next week.
Santa Monica police reported that DNA collected from a crime scene earlier this year link Gargiulo to the knife assault deaths of women from Los Angeles, Chicago and Monterey Park. One of the victims was 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin, Ashton Kutcher's ex-girlfriend, who was found dead in February 2001 in her home in the Hollywood Hills.
Ashton Kutcher, who starred in the recent comedy "What Happens In Vegas" with Cameron Diaz, and is married to celebrity Demi Moore, told police he went to pick up Ashley Ellerin for a Grammy party, but she did not come to the door. Kutcher looked in a rear window and saw what he believed were red wine stains on the floor and left. Friends found Ellerin's dead body the next day.
Gargiulo was being held pending a $1.1 million bail on charges of attempted murder and burglary charges from the April 28 death of a Santa Monica woman in her home.
Gargiulo's attorney, Anthony Salerno, said his client was not involved in any of the murders and "thinks the police are out to get him." He said Mr. Gargiulo has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder and burglary charges and is scheduled for a hearing on September 4.
Ashton Kutcher can be seen later this year opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and Kathy Bates in the film "Personal Effects", about what happens to a couple after the loss of family members, while they try to cope with their destinies.
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